Dear Franks of Niles
5699 W Touhy Ave, Niles, IL, 60714
Dear Franks of Niles Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Niles for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Niles for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
5699 W Touhy Ave
Niles, IL, 60714 - Phone (847) 647-9099
- Website https://www.dearfranks.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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James P.
Great service but mediocre food. I'm always wishing for better burgers or fries.
(2)Erica T.
During a hotel stay in Skokie, this came up as the top rated option on Grubhub. So we ordered, and we're glad we did. We both got the Monday special, two hot dogs (comes with fries and a drink). Husband traded up to the waffle fries, I traded up to the cheese fries; we each got a shake (strawberry and chocolate) instead of the soda. About 20 minutes after we ordered, the restaurant called us to clarify our order - ask what we wanted on the hot dogs. Delivery followed quickly. They proceeded to explain the Chicago dog, and we both opted to try it. The jalapeño peppers were too hot for me, but otherwise I enjoyed the topping-heavy hot dog - husband loved it with them. Only thing I wasn't a fan of was the bun - it didn't seem to hold up to the juicy toppings very well. (I haven't had a Chicago dog before, so that may just be a reality of the menu item.) The fries were great (both options) - the cheese was some of the tastiest cheese-as-a-fries-topping I've had. The shakes were also quite good, and generously sized for the $1 upgrade price, in my opinion. Overall, quite impressed with the customer service, and the food was tasty, inexpensive, and quick.
(4)Virginia T.
Now that I work across the street, I finally stopped into Dear Franks and I can say I was pleasantly surprised. The staff is great. The food is good. Their prices, however, are pretty freakin' high for a hot dog joint. They also make everything to order and sometimes that means a 10-15min wait, especially around the busy lunch rush. They are consistent though, and if I want hot dogs, burgers, etc. I'm likely to go here.
(3)Rick C.
Haven't been here in years. Probably since it was U dawg u and I think the same lady took my order. Still good service. Had the char dog and the brat. Both pretty good. I held off on the cheddar fries which I remember to be made with the merkt's style cheddar and quite delicious.
(3)a w.
Good lunch stop for some hot dogs and fries. That's their specialty here and one of the few things on their pretty basic menu. Good lunch stop to fill that hot dog craving!
(4)Sean H.
Disappointment. I only need one word to describe my experience at Dear Franks. I had a simple order of 2 hot dogs and fries. There were 2 people in front of me in line. It took them 20 minutes to get my order complete. The price was outrageous for hotdogs. There are multiple hotdog vendors within 5 minutes of Dear Franks that have considerably faster service for a reasonable fair. I guess your are paying for the "ambiance" of the place. To me, it was not worth it.
(1)Michael R.
When think of franks I think Chicago style char dogs YUMMMMMMY! Not to mention cheese fries top notch, chicken, burgers you name it its pretty much all good in the hood with this place. Little bit pricey but the quality is excellent. They have Chicago sport posters everywhere,its just an all around family, friends place to go and enjoy some ballpark type of food.
(4)Allan M.
Honestly surprised I've never reviewed this place, after going here millions of times. But I will now make up for that. The menu and staff is virtually the same from when the name changed from U Dawg U to Dear Franks a few years ago, outside of a few minor menu additions(such as that they now serve shakes). Most of the awesome staff has worked here for many years, and they usually remember who I am when coming here(though lol, I'm not quite the type that gets the same order each time here). They handle rushes pretty well, though occasionally I've had to wait a little during lunch rushes for food. And in my experiences here, their lunch rush is usually their busiest time of any serving customers, with evening being 2nd busiest, so go during the middle of the afternoon or early evening if you don't want too long a wait. What I'm really addicted to is their waffle fries. Whenever I can afford them, I always get those instead of their regular fries, though their regular ones aren't bad(but need a wee bit salt). Great hot dogs, gyros, sandwiches, burgers(really love that they give you the option of cutting the burgers in half), you name just about anything they have, it'll be good. Me and my mom still debate to this day whether the cheese they serve on the burgers is processed. She may be possibly right for all I know, but darn is it good! To get the most enjoyable experience, take a little time to admire their sports memorabilia, and glance at a sports game on their TV, or read a newspaper when here. 9/17/08 edit: They are actually open on Sundays, albeit that they close I believe around 7pm.
(5)Ted C.
I like this place, it seems like with a lot of things Chicago style hot dog stands are becoming franchised and watered down (Hello, Portillo's.) Dear Franks is still a local place-even though they have 3 locations and that makes it a little more endearing. The food is like any other local hot dog stand, but that's what makes it good-also their season fries. Just a good hot dog stand, something that's getting harder and harder to come by.
(3)Michelle F.
Dear Franks is a pretty good hot dog joint. I've only been there once, and I would probably go back if I was in the area for shopping or the movie theater. I guess I just wasn't wowed, especially considering the price. My husband and I ordered a Hot Dog, Polish Sausage and a Tuna Melt, and all three were pretty good. The Hot Dog had a nice snap to it, and the Polish was pretty tasty. The tuna on the Tuna Melt could have used a tad bit more mayo, but overall it was good too. I liked the way Dear Franks was decorated with Chicago sports memorabilia. Sporting events were on TVs in the restaurant, which helped complete the theme. Dear Franks seems like it would be a really great lunch spot, especially for shoppers or employees of the area's many stores. Overall, Dear Franks was good. I would have to agree with the other Yelps who said the price was a little too steep for the quality of food. Had the prices been a little more reasonable for a hot dog joint, Dear Franks would have received a four-star rating.
(3)Dan D.
This is a popular place for the suburbanites on the northside. Known for the hotdogs and burgers, it is a quality place that is adorned with Chicago sports memorabilia all over the walls. However, the price is way too high for the food / my budget. A hotdog costs about $3 including tax, no fries, no drink. Dang, thats a pricey doggy. I know other places around town that can get ya just as good of a dog for about $1.20. Now that's yummy yummy.
(2)Justin G.
Stars are for the price. $9.25+ for two dogs, fries and a drink is mighty steep. The dogs were good but let's be honest, it's hard to mess up a Vienna hotdog. Fries were not fresh cut and drink was just soda from the fountain. None of this equates to a nine dollar meal.
(2)Justin S.
Best Greek fast food in the neighborhood. Little pricey, but you easily get what you pay for. The fact that they have melted merkts cheddar is key. Put it on your burger, dog and hell even your beef. I've had all three and its top notch. People working there have been working there since it was called "U Dawg U". Beef combo sandwich is the best you'll find this side of Elmwood park. Also, nice that they have fountain drinks w good selections. Honestly, so many options on their menu that I often change it up every time I go. Much better than West or East of Edens. Papa Chris has a better gyro, but this place beats it in every other category. Just put merks cheddar on everything you order. Overall, roll w a double bacon cheeseburger w merkts or beef combo sandwich. Mertks cheddar seasoned cottage fries are required. Probably the best side order of any Greek fast food in the neighborhood. Dusty
(4)Megan A.
This place is just... amazing. You can't believe how good a hot dog (specifically, a Chicago dog) can get until you eat here. I recommend the Jumbo Char Dog... just typing about this is making my mouth water. The fries are very tasty, and my husband likes the pizza puff. I live in southern WI and the other day my friends and I drove an hour and a half just to have lunch here... yes, it's that good. Definitely give it a try.
(5)Barbara M.
Let me begin by saying that I am a huge & loyal fan of Super Dawg, so I knew going into this place that it couldn't compare by any means, but boy oh boy, was I wrong! First off let me start by saying the staff here are nicer than nice and greeted my son and I immediately. Since I've never been here before and we were just grabbing a quick bite before we hit the local movie theater, we both decided to order a dog & fries. Turns out that was the special of the day which meant it also came with a pop......sweet !! Not to mention that pop refills are FREE, that's right people, NO CHARGE for refills!!! Refills might not seem a big deal to some people, but if your a single Mom and your teenage son drinks as much as mine does, it matters, especially since I don't buy pop at home. This place has a special every day of the week and their prices are pretty good as well. Secondly, since our hot dogs came with fries, I asked if they could make them well done (nothing I hate more than soggy-ass french fries). They happily agreed and the crinkle-cut fries (my fave) were cooked to perfection and I ate every last one of them covered in ketchup.....Yum......Yum .....Fuckin' Yum !!! I will definitely be back if only for the fries!!!!
(4)Bella D.
My best pal from 4th grade and I still love our eating frenzies : ) and Dear Franks is the best place to go!! Char dog and Cheeseburgers and Fries!! Da best!! : ) Stop by hear for a quick bite! Great business owners and great food!
(5)Sherwin B.
I love their grilled hot dogs on a fresh bun with mustard, pickles, relish, saurkraut, onions, celery salt...everything but ketchup (yuk). Nice folks, clean, priced about right, and they get busy so it takes a while to get your dog...but worth it. Nice tables and loads of Chicago pictures and stuff to look at while you wait. Thanks guys!
(5)Christina G.
I really liked this place from the moment I stepped inside. There are a bunch of big and bright Coca-Cola advertisements hung up, as well as a ton of framed and autographed sports pictures (and other Chicago-related memorabilia) all over one of the bigger, longer walls. The two tv's usually have some sort of news or sports channel on, and aren't too distracting or loud. It's a great stop for a quick bite to eat...Because there is so much going on visually, it really makes a casual, fast lunch seem comfortable and interesting, unlike other hot dog places in the city that seem so dead and empty without personality or liveliness. I would say that the tables needed to be a bit more clean, but aside from that, their customer service and food were great. The staff was very friendly and patient as I ordered one of the daily specials- a cheeseburger with fries and drink- for about $6. It was a good deal, because they served my cheeseburger (which was customized) neatly wrapped in parchment paper, cut in half, and tucked in a basket alongside a good amount of fries. The cheese on my burger was incredible! mmm, I think it's some sort of cheddar- very melty and saucy-lookin... I highly recommend this place if you are in the area and are looking for some Chicago-style food(hotdogs/burgers/etc) and a place that is casual, yummy, and cheap!!!
(5)Nastassia J.
The hubby and I happened upon this place when we were starving, and I'm sure glad I made him stop. We both got char burgers and they were great. Usually, I don't care for the piles of toppings that some joints around the city put on burgers, but at Franks, it all worked perfectly. Fries were great and the price was right!
(5)Arlene T.
Best cheese fries ever!
(4)Anna L.
Love this place. The owners and employees are welcoming. The food is great. My kids love it.
(5)Chris S.
I like this place. I work down the street and we commonly walk over here for lunch. If you go here more than a couple times, they know you by name and what your usual order is. I recommend the burgers, chicken sandwiches and the Polish. The hot dogs are OK and the beefs are decent, but if I want a beef, I'm going to Duke's. It's a little pricey and if you go in here around noon, the wait can be pretty rough. Lots of local suits and high school kids from Niles West, so beware of a high jack-ass quotient. Aside from that, the service and quality of food gives them an A+, but only four stars. They'd get five if it was just slightly cheaper.
(4)Tim N.
This used to be the "U Dawg U" just like the one that was on Well years ago. Guess what! They still have the same Cheddar cheese for your fries. It is so F-ing good. Get the Chicago Char-dog. Actually, get the Char-dog everytime you get a hot dog. Who wants a soggy bun from those weiners? While you are up there, check out a flick at hte Crown Theater 16.
(4)Betsy L.
This is a regular weekend "date" for me and my husband. They have a GREAT staff, solid good food, and a friendly crowd. Our nieces and nephew literally BEG us to take them to Dear Franks whenever they come into town fromNaperville. (I swear, they think Heaven looks like the inside of Dear Franks!) Especially awesome, besides the staff: onion rings (yes, REAL ones), waffle fries ("seasoned fries"), Philly cheese steak sandwich, and the grilled chicken sandwich (on your choice of bread -- I like Pita or a bun). We usually get two drinks, two sandwiches of some sort, and one order of fries or onion rings, and the total is $16.50 or so. Fresh, cooked-to-order lunch for two for well under $20? I'm not really complaining. Did I mention how tasty the onion rings are????
(5)Louis C.
This hidden little joint in a strip mall adjacent to a Jewel/Osco serves a mucho tasty chardog with all the fixins. My perfectly charred (and split) dog came with celery salt, mustard, sauerkraut (natch), tomatoes, sport peppers (nice flavor, not nuclear hot) and a pickle. This place pays attention to all of the little details: my char dog looked great and the toppings were well placed, not sloppy at all, the bun was warm and the fries are that really tasty crinkle cut style. Everything is prepared right when you order so your food comes out piping hot. To top things off, they have yummy soft-serve ice cream. The dining area, though small, is clean and despite my visiting on a sloppy, winter afternoon the place was spic and span. The staff was friendly.
(4)Garrett C.
I have been going to Dear Franks since I was a little kid, back when it was U Dawg U. I've been to all the locations and they are all equally good. I recently moved to San Francisco and there is NOTHING out here to compare to Dear Franks. The thing I love most about this place is the fact that the same friendly faces have served me everytime I go in since I was little. OK... I lied...the thing I love most is the cheddar fries. mmm ..... cheddar fries....OK, I need to wrap up this review before I buy a plane ticket to O'Hare, suffice it to say, when I come home for any amount of time, this place is at the top of the list!
(5)Tom Z.
I just want to start off by saying I had high hopes for this Hot Dog place. One problem was they didn't have a hot dog special (fries included). The biggest problem was the Vienna Hot Dog was sitting in the water too long, it was over cooked and lost it's flavor. This was about 1:30 so it may have been left over from lunch, but this shouldn't have happened. I may go back and give it another try. I will say I really liked the crinkle cut fries.
(2)Gina D.
Great alternative to fast food, a great place to grab a bite to eat. The staff are friendly and personable, which is a plus! The food is freshly made to order and the food tastes good :) I recently tried the burger and it was impressivly good!
(4)Michael B.
Friendliest people around. The food is really good, Polish and chili cheese fries will always make me come back. The prices are a bit too much though, but thats my only gripe. Otherwise cozy, love the people working their and love the food.
(4)Chris W.
This place used to be U Dawg U. Which had equally as awesome food. It's just a little hole in the wall that you'd probably never think to stop in but I recommend you do. They've got specials everyday so you can get yourself a pretty good deal. I'd recommend their burgers though for sure. Their dogs are great too but the best burgers I've had aside from Paradise Pup are at this place. And they're cheaper. The guys that work there are pretty friendly. Chummy with the regulars and everyone else for that matter. They've got a crappy TV set up usually with some sports on. Lots of sports related pictures framed all over the walls. Kind of a shitty environment to be eating in but it's not like it's disgusting, just shitty lighting and some of the table legs are a little uneven. Better to have your food fresh though, even if you've got to eat it on an uneven table. Though if you take it home it'll be equally as awesome. They cook your burger, wrap it in some parchment paper stuff and cut it in half and serve it to you in a basket.
(4)Alex F.
Never had a hot-dog there, but the burgers are excellent. However, the reason I go there is for the chili-cheese fries.With genuine cheddar and good chili, this stuff is guaranteed to shorten your life by 5 years.
(5)Joanna B.
Very friendly and helpful staff. Good food. I recommend the turkey sausages or turkey burgers. Excellent french fries!
(5)Ninweh Y.
Everything there is good. Especially , the burger . Yummy !!! The waffle fries are so delicious . Great customer services .
(5)Tricia G.
Great hotdogs!!! Service is really good. The people working there are super nice. Always greets you with a smile and a little bit of small talk. I always come here for the hotdogs and they never disappoint.
(5)Carolyn M P.
My sister and I came in during a rainy day to try something different. And we saw this store window stating DEAR FRANKS ? Sounds different lets go in and maybe the rain will let up. Well the rain didn't I ordered there Gyros sandwich also made it a meal with fries & drink for $2.95 the fries were crispy also the Gyros was great. I used to have this all the time at this place in my hometown in Aurora. My sister had the Patty melt and made it a meal also. She too like hers. This is a spot we will come back to again. Plus there are many other shops to visit too.
(4)JW W.
Well what can I say! Hum let's see! A burger critic came to visit your place at 12:30 in the afternoon and you gave him a dry precooked burger!! It had No taste at all!!! I think waiting for your burger to be cooked is much better then getting one that was cooked 2 hrs ago and dry as can be!! Must have been in a container somewhere keeping warm cause it only took 3 min to fix my order!! Oh well they had thier chance we will let everyone know how bad it was!! Don't go waste of money much better places out there that will make u a fresh burger!! Ps 1hr later on toilet!! Not good!! Next morning still got the shits!! Lmao
(1)Mary H.
I really enjoyed the food at Dear Franks as it was simply delicious! The staff was also great! Michael was super! My food was hot and tasty and what made it better was being able to have a person like Michael take care of me! I highly recommend this restaurant to all. If you want delicious food and good service- this is the place to go!!!! Super!
(5)Michael C.
We went to Dear Franks at Lunch Time. Kinda busy, no problems, tho. They were very smooth and fast! I had something called a Hoagie. Not with American Cheese, but with Swiss. Can I tell you that I died and went to heaven???? I never had this before! What I was MISSING!!! This HUGE sandwich was GOOOOD! And for another $2.95 you get fries and a large drink (large to me). I raved all about it even the following day. Nice place. Nice guys and gals. Fast turnaround once you get your order in.
(5)Reda K.
Grill chicken salads are really good. They actually cook the grill chicken for your order they have good specials
(4)Shoshanna S.
My boss (Kimmy) and I (Tabitha) got some food from here about 20mins ago, mine was fine; I had a simple hot dog with friends. But for her, well lets say not so fine. She told me her cheese fries were the worst she had ever had. I tried them and she was right. The cheese was like a melted blob of sandy cheddar mess. Like seriously, what the hell was this? That was hot legit cheddar cheese. It was like cold cheese on top of hot fries. Not cool dudes. For all your moving needs, call Done Right Moving and Storage Rates as low as $250. 312-854-5555
(3)Doug R.
Been here many times and have always had great food. Burgers, Chicken, hot dogs, it's always been good.
(5)Natasha R.
This is a great place for lunch - I've been here a couple of times since it's close to work and I have always had a good experience. Reading through other reviews, I am surprised there are so many mentions of bad customer service. I've had EXCELLENT service - very friendly staff, with huge smiles, at least from what I have seen. I have only tried a couple items off the menu, but I absolutely LOVE the Mushroom Swiss Burger... mmm! I've had it twice, once as a combo with a drink and fries, and once just as a burger. For me, it is way too much with the combo (though the cheese fries are delicious). There is nothing worse than the "sleepy after lunch feeling" back at work.. The burger on it's own is actually a perfect size! The last time I was here, I also had a chocolate/banana malt shake as well (it was one of those days...) Nothing else is worth mentioning, but I've never been disappointed. This location is located in the Village Crossing Mall, so it gets super busy around lunchtime. As for many other spots that I go to, I always try to avoid the crazy lunch rush, so 1 pm seems to be a good time. Going along with that, parking could be a b*tch as well. The inside is cozy, spacious, and has lots of Chicago sports memorabilia on the walls. The TV always has a game going on, so it's a good place to escape to from work :)
(4)M P.
Great food and excellent service! Every time I have gone here through the years I am never disappointed. The food is always good. Burgers, fries, sandwiches, and the shakes are delicious. Just the type of food you would expect when you want a little more than other fast food. Also the employees are always friendly!
(5)Emily S.
I've been coming to dear franks since I was in high school and I can't believe I forgot to review one of my favorite places. Perfect place to grab a burger and cheese fries! Tried some other menu items and the food is always really good, I've never had a bad meal here! The staff is always extremely friendly every time I come in too :) The food is always consistent and I've never had a problem with my order. Love dear franks!
(5)Gerry X.
Great place with friendly service, friendly staff and good food. Strip mall parking so something it's bad sometimes it's okay. the veggie burger here is really tasty.
(5)Jaclyn W.
The only thing I ordered was some cheese fries. Actual fries were pretty good but the cheese was very overpowering. It was giving me acid reflux and was kind of hard to eat. My friend also did not like the cheese fries.
(2)Vince R.
If you wanna pay for way overpriced food then Dear Franks is the place for you. Hotdogs are 3 bucks and don't include a fries or drink, their an additional 3 bucks. For 6 dollars for a single hotdog meal is outrageous. Their other combo meals are a rip off. Fries are horrible. You have to spend at least 10 bucks for a meal that is sub par. If I wanted to spend that much I'd go to a real restaurant and spend a few dollars more for some actual good food. Do not waste your time people.
(1)Beatriz R.
I am not sure if I am really crazy about this place like it really hasn't wow'd me but I come because it's somewhat close to my job. I've tried several things on the menu like Char chicken sandwich and it just lacked flavor, I've a steak sub which was okay maybe needed alil more mayo or some special sauce they can create to spice it up. The wait is terrbile sometimes everything is cooked fresh to order it seems but when you only have a smal amount of time to get back to work it can be a bad idea to come. Overall the people working the front or taking orders are rather friendly, some times it can be a lil loud and hard to hear for them so patience is a must!. But if you are around i'd check it out!
(3)Sarah P.
Ugh, ate here once a couple years ago, and it still tops my list as worst food I ever paid for! I had a chicken sandwich and my guy had a beef. Both were BURNT, yet cold. And I mean BURNT... All we could taste char! I remember the fries being horribly soggy as well. Ick!
(1)Mandy K.
Ordered a medium/large delivery to my home and the customer service was extremely good. Fair pricing with all sorts of things to choose from. The shakes are deliccciouusss! The hamburgers are fantastic and small (but definitely will fill you up!), hotdogs are served great as well! I am a returning customer and will continue to order from here. Let the good times rollllll :)
(5)Debbie L.
The staff was friendly, the dog was good but the cheese fries were crap. Instead of beautifully melted cheddar cheese, I got a glob of only partially melted cheese paste on top of hot fries. My husband ordered the char dog and it looked much better than mine. Since he ordered cheese fries also, we both ended up throwing away most of our fries. I know for the future what to avoid.
(3)Kelley S.
I must write to update my previous review of this establishment. After being very kindly corrected, I want to make special note that there IS a changing table there despite my last review stating otherwise. And a kudos again goes out to this restaurant for it's extreme amount of friendliness and professionalism. I will return here, get a burger this time, and hopefully be back to give them 4 stars or above :)
(3)Simon C.
I've been coming to Dear Franks for years since it used to be U Dawg U. The food has been consistently great and staff is always friendly even on those days where I can't figure out if I want to try something new or go with my usual Double Cheese Burger w/ everything and hot peppers (god is it good..). What I love about the place is they do not try to reinvent the wheel, they make a simply great burger and good fries. Oh and their dogs are amazing as well. Jumbo butterfly chardog w/ everything, if you don't know you need to go find out for YOURSELF!!
(5)Lenny G.
The hotdog is pretty good, but the fries, not so much. They have a lot of options and the prices are ok. I would try this place again.
(3)Jacob J.
You've been searching Chicago for that amazing Chicago style dog, your search ends here. Some stick to this funny idea that Superdawg is the best dog. Not, they have the best dawg. There are only a couple Dear Franks locations and this is the closest to Chicago. Even on a weekday afternoon they have more than enough employees in the kitchens working on food and maintaining the tables and restaurant altogether. It's not a big space, it's about the size of any quick stop Dunkin Donuts shop. Though have many seats available for the duo, group or single that needs to eat. Get a jumbo char dog with everything. You'll love it. What's so interesting? I think they soak the dogs a bit, slice the frank so that when it's grilling it gets fully cooked. Top it with the best tomato slices and sport peppers. It all tastes so very fresh and tasty. Now I'm longing....
(5)George Y.
this place is just plain stupid good, the owner is always there and always a fun time talking to him before the food comes.... just plain great food
(5)Nick S.
This place has been around for a long time. It used to be "U Dawg U". Parking pain at lunch time. Every blue collar that isn't at West of Edens is here. It's like a bumper car rink with people pulling in from Touhy and backing out, and waiting, etc. It's annoying. Outdoor seat is a nice little perk, not many places around there have outdoor seating. Nothing fancy, but it's outside. To me, this place has always been a little pricey. Not bad, and I wouldn't not go in because of it. Good cheese sauce!! It's real cheddar cheese sauce. Not the yellow liquid that is nacho sauce half the time, but real orange cheddar cheese. So real that the oil separates out when it sits! It's not for everyone, pretty sharp, but worth a try. Fast service and attentive staff. If you like sports memorabilia, this would be the place to go.
(4)Debbie M.
This place was great when it was U Dawg U, the people were friendly and they always had fresh soups. I remember how good they were and went to get some soup on a cold November afternoon. I waited 20 minutes that they were making in some machine. What takes so long and what is it made of. On top of it it was cold. I am never going back. Granted the food is made fresh but there are better places like Papa Chris, BackYard Grill, getand even Jacks Restaurant where you can get fresh food in the neighborhood. Disappointed!!!
(1)Christine S.
Two words make me think of Dear Franks; CHEESE FRIES! They serve real cheese, not that nacho or cheese wiz crap. The chicken breast sandwiches are outta this world. The staff is SO friendly. Seriously, a great hot dog joint. Come here! (this review is for both locations because both are equally amazing)
(4)David L.
Just like the original in Deerfield. The signature food is cheese fries and they are great. Great quality junk food.
(4)Scott H.
Horrible counter service. Mediocre food. Maybe if the fast talking counter help would let me finish saying what I wanted rather than assume she knew. Stop, listen and then take the order. 2 hot dog baskets with fries and a drink. 1 plain and one with everything. It wasn't that busy and there wasn't a line. Slow down and take the order properly. Then the food came out and well, they either gave us cold food on purpose or this is the service you can expect.
(1)Rhonda G.
A cute neighborhood establishment complete with families and preteen riff raff. Service is pretty quick but slightly inefficient. Although you are asked what you want on your dog/burger/polish when you order, you are called up and asked again before they finish it. Object of my affection: Turkey Polish with all the trimmings! So good. My Objection: Your fries are awful. They taste like cheap mass produced crinkle cut fries with no salt. A little pricey for just a regular polish or a hot dog. I can get a fancy topping over at this other place (you know) for what you charge for the regular stuff. Overall a nice little spot worthy of a quick drop-in for a snack, but I don't recommend the fries.
(3)Rodger W.
Amazing Polish and Hot Dogs. They lose a star for being pricey, but the quality is high and the service is fast and friendly. The specials are reasonable and include fries and a bottomless drink.
(4)Emily P.
One of the best places to grab a burger and fries - or better yet - seasoned cheese fries (my absolute favorite!) The prices are a bit higher than your typical fast food joint, but the taste makes up for that. I've never seen Dear Franks empty so it might take a while longer than your typical McDonalds or Burger King to get your food, but I think it's worth the extra few minutes. We like to designate Sundays as "Dear Franks Sundays." We go grab a bite to bring back home during half time.
(4)Jennifer K.
Been to all the best hamburger places in Chicago but this place is my all time favorite! The cheddar that they use is awesome! I like how they make the hamburger the way you want it and always tastes so fresh!!
(4)Pam D.
We stop here a lot when we go to the movies. I have always enjoyed the food but tend to stick to their Chicago dogs. I love their cheese fries as well, and the free refills on the soda is a plus. I stopped for a Chicago dog yesterday. One thing to keep in mind, when you ask for everything on your dog here ... it includes sauerkraut. Fortunately, they seem to sense that most folks do not want that and ask if you want it atop the dog. For me that's a big "No thanks!!!!"
(4)Stefan C.
This place is pretty bad. I ordered 2 chili dogs, small fries and a drink and it came out to about $10. Wow. The service was friendly but the rest is pretty bad. Dirty tables and the food sucks. The employee said they have the best chili dog in the area and I would have to disagree. Also the cheese that they have for their cheese fries or their chili cheese dogs tastes and smells like fecalmatter.
(2)Randy S.
Decent food, but the experience with the staff is awful. If they would spend half the time they do preparing the food as they do acting like your best friend than maybe you would get out within an hour. I'm not impressed that you can read my first name off my credit card, I'm thoroughly weirded out.
(2)Joe B.
Our favorite hamburger joint in Chicago. Their cheeseburgers are excellent. The staff is friendly and seem to do a good job of remembering people. My kids really like this place. If we let them vote on where to eat they will usually ask for Dear Franks. I will say this - with four kids, fries, shakes and burgers it gets kind of pricey. I regularly drop $40 to $50 on a meal for my family.
(5)Keith Y.
EDIT I SHOULD HAVE DONE MONTHS AGO: after i posted this, the owner or manager emailed me, personally apologized, and told me they now cook the fries on time. im going to leave the rant up so people know what im talking about, but obviously theyre sensitive to customer feedback. yay for people who care ------------------------------------ this place has decent food, its a little pricey but what would you expect in a mall in the suburbs? lots of vienna beef, chicago-phile, 90's bulls and 80s bears decorations on the wall so that you know your $4 hotdog is chicago enough. i am writing this review SOLELY because i am perplexed by their habit of not cooking your fries until you arrive, after you phone in an order. the first time i allowed it as a mistake but apparently this is protocol: you call in food. they tell you your food will be ready in 15 minutes or however long. lets say you show up 17 minutes later, or 15 or 25 minutes, it doesnt matter. when you announce that youre here to pick up the food, they start cooking your fries. i understand that they only take 2-3 minutes to cook. but if i am there 15 minutes after i call in the order (like they told me to be) and i have to wait in line behind 3 other people when i arrive, thanks to their open kitchen i can see my sack of burgers and the like sitting on the counter. but finally you get to the cashier, and then you see them START cooking your food. when its already supposed to be ready according to them (and most of it is) it just doesnt make sense. i had someone rationalize this as "they dont want the fries to get cold/they dont know if the customer will really show up". both of those excuses make zero sense. everything else is cooked and getting cold or whatever. why cant you cook my fries until i've already waited 15 minutes and then waited again in line? this isnt to complain about their line, if a restaurant is busy good for them. but it just makes absolutely no sense for them to wait. i could easily see a line of customers coming in that would fill up both deepfryers with food before you get to the counter, and then you having to wait even longer, despite calling your food in for the exact reason that you dont want to come in there and wait. whether its ten or twenty minutes doesnt matter to me, if i call in an order and you tell me to be there at a certain time then stick to it. it has nothing to do with being backed up. if i got there and all my food was still being cooked then thats one thing, because obviously you got the timing wrong or had other work to do or whatever it is. but when i show up for my food and hear the manager or who ever it is tell the cooks to start cooking it, WTF!? i just want to know why they think this is good business practice. last time i went there i had to wait ten minutes in the restaurant while i watched them cook the food. the whole point of phoning an order in is so that it is ready when you pick it up, therefore saving time. hypothetically you could show up a half hour late when placing an order, and they still wouldnt have your fries cooked yet. im pretty sure i could just walk in and order the whole order and have it ready in the same time, sans the phone call. again id like to say im not bashing the business, it is what it is. food is more than palatable even at its worst, and the menu is expansive enough to cover most tastes. but i doubt i will ever phone in an order to someone that doesnt understand that the order is being called in to avoid waiting.
(3)JR A.
My favorite cheddar burger n cheddar fries place! Food always taste the same great way each and every time. People are always friendly n personable. Skip everything else at village crossing and go here. This places uses real cheddar cheese!!!!
(5)Christina G.
I really liked this place from the moment I stepped inside. There are a bunch of big and bright Coca-Cola advertisements hung up, as well as a ton of framed and autographed sports pictures (and other Chicago-related memorabilia) all over one of the bigger, longer walls. The two tv's usually have some sort of news or sports channel on, and aren't too distracting or loud. It's a great stop for a quick bite to eat...Because there is so much going on visually, it really makes a casual, fast lunch seem comfortable and interesting, unlike other hot dog places in the city that seem so dead and empty without personality or liveliness. I would say that the tables needed to be a bit more clean, but aside from that, their customer service and food were great. The staff was very friendly and patient as I ordered one of the daily specials- a cheeseburger with fries and drink- for about $6. It was a good deal, because they served my cheeseburger (which was customized) neatly wrapped in parchment paper, cut in half, and tucked in a basket alongside a good amount of fries. The cheese on my burger was incredible! mmm, I think it's some sort of cheddar- very melty and saucy-lookin... I highly recommend this place if you are in the area and are looking for some Chicago-style food(hotdogs/burgers/etc) and a place that is casual, yummy, and cheap!!!
(5)Nastassia J.
The hubby and I happened upon this place when we were starving, and I'm sure glad I made him stop. We both got char burgers and they were great. Usually, I don't care for the piles of toppings that some joints around the city put on burgers, but at Franks, it all worked perfectly. Fries were great and the price was right!
(5)Arlene T.
Best cheese fries ever!
(4)Anna L.
Love this place. The owners and employees are welcoming. The food is great. My kids love it.
(5)Chris S.
I like this place. I work down the street and we commonly walk over here for lunch. If you go here more than a couple times, they know you by name and what your usual order is. I recommend the burgers, chicken sandwiches and the Polish. The hot dogs are OK and the beefs are decent, but if I want a beef, I'm going to Duke's. It's a little pricey and if you go in here around noon, the wait can be pretty rough. Lots of local suits and high school kids from Niles West, so beware of a high jack-ass quotient. Aside from that, the service and quality of food gives them an A+, but only four stars. They'd get five if it was just slightly cheaper.
(4)Tim N.
This used to be the "U Dawg U" just like the one that was on Well years ago. Guess what! They still have the same Cheddar cheese for your fries. It is so F-ing good. Get the Chicago Char-dog. Actually, get the Char-dog everytime you get a hot dog. Who wants a soggy bun from those weiners? While you are up there, check out a flick at hte Crown Theater 16.
(4)Michelle F.
Dear Franks is a pretty good hot dog joint. I've only been there once, and I would probably go back if I was in the area for shopping or the movie theater. I guess I just wasn't wowed, especially considering the price. My husband and I ordered a Hot Dog, Polish Sausage and a Tuna Melt, and all three were pretty good. The Hot Dog had a nice snap to it, and the Polish was pretty tasty. The tuna on the Tuna Melt could have used a tad bit more mayo, but overall it was good too. I liked the way Dear Franks was decorated with Chicago sports memorabilia. Sporting events were on TVs in the restaurant, which helped complete the theme. Dear Franks seems like it would be a really great lunch spot, especially for shoppers or employees of the area's many stores. Overall, Dear Franks was good. I would have to agree with the other Yelps who said the price was a little too steep for the quality of food. Had the prices been a little more reasonable for a hot dog joint, Dear Franks would have received a four-star rating.
(3)Dan D.
This is a popular place for the suburbanites on the northside. Known for the hotdogs and burgers, it is a quality place that is adorned with Chicago sports memorabilia all over the walls. However, the price is way too high for the food / my budget. A hotdog costs about $3 including tax, no fries, no drink. Dang, thats a pricey doggy. I know other places around town that can get ya just as good of a dog for about $1.20. Now that's yummy yummy.
(2)Virginia T.
Now that I work across the street, I finally stopped into Dear Franks and I can say I was pleasantly surprised. The staff is great. The food is good. Their prices, however, are pretty freakin' high for a hot dog joint. They also make everything to order and sometimes that means a 10-15min wait, especially around the busy lunch rush. They are consistent though, and if I want hot dogs, burgers, etc. I'm likely to go here.
(3)Rick C.
Haven't been here in years. Probably since it was U dawg u and I think the same lady took my order. Still good service. Had the char dog and the brat. Both pretty good. I held off on the cheddar fries which I remember to be made with the merkt's style cheddar and quite delicious.
(3)Michael R.
When think of franks I think Chicago style char dogs YUMMMMMMY! Not to mention cheese fries top notch, chicken, burgers you name it its pretty much all good in the hood with this place. Little bit pricey but the quality is excellent. They have Chicago sport posters everywhere,its just an all around family, friends place to go and enjoy some ballpark type of food.
(4)Ted C.
I like this place, it seems like with a lot of things Chicago style hot dog stands are becoming franchised and watered down (Hello, Portillo's.) Dear Franks is still a local place-even though they have 3 locations and that makes it a little more endearing. The food is like any other local hot dog stand, but that's what makes it good-also their season fries. Just a good hot dog stand, something that's getting harder and harder to come by.
(3)Betsy L.
This is a regular weekend "date" for me and my husband. They have a GREAT staff, solid good food, and a friendly crowd. Our nieces and nephew literally BEG us to take them to Dear Franks whenever they come into town fromNaperville. (I swear, they think Heaven looks like the inside of Dear Franks!) Especially awesome, besides the staff: onion rings (yes, REAL ones), waffle fries ("seasoned fries"), Philly cheese steak sandwich, and the grilled chicken sandwich (on your choice of bread -- I like Pita or a bun). We usually get two drinks, two sandwiches of some sort, and one order of fries or onion rings, and the total is $16.50 or so. Fresh, cooked-to-order lunch for two for well under $20? I'm not really complaining. Did I mention how tasty the onion rings are????
(5)Louis C.
This hidden little joint in a strip mall adjacent to a Jewel/Osco serves a mucho tasty chardog with all the fixins. My perfectly charred (and split) dog came with celery salt, mustard, sauerkraut (natch), tomatoes, sport peppers (nice flavor, not nuclear hot) and a pickle. This place pays attention to all of the little details: my char dog looked great and the toppings were well placed, not sloppy at all, the bun was warm and the fries are that really tasty crinkle cut style. Everything is prepared right when you order so your food comes out piping hot. To top things off, they have yummy soft-serve ice cream. The dining area, though small, is clean and despite my visiting on a sloppy, winter afternoon the place was spic and span. The staff was friendly.
(4)Garrett C.
I have been going to Dear Franks since I was a little kid, back when it was U Dawg U. I've been to all the locations and they are all equally good. I recently moved to San Francisco and there is NOTHING out here to compare to Dear Franks. The thing I love most about this place is the fact that the same friendly faces have served me everytime I go in since I was little. OK... I lied...the thing I love most is the cheddar fries. mmm ..... cheddar fries....OK, I need to wrap up this review before I buy a plane ticket to O'Hare, suffice it to say, when I come home for any amount of time, this place is at the top of the list!
(5)Tom Z.
I just want to start off by saying I had high hopes for this Hot Dog place. One problem was they didn't have a hot dog special (fries included). The biggest problem was the Vienna Hot Dog was sitting in the water too long, it was over cooked and lost it's flavor. This was about 1:30 so it may have been left over from lunch, but this shouldn't have happened. I may go back and give it another try. I will say I really liked the crinkle cut fries.
(2)Gina D.
Great alternative to fast food, a great place to grab a bite to eat. The staff are friendly and personable, which is a plus! The food is freshly made to order and the food tastes good :) I recently tried the burger and it was impressivly good!
(4)Michael B.
Friendliest people around. The food is really good, Polish and chili cheese fries will always make me come back. The prices are a bit too much though, but thats my only gripe. Otherwise cozy, love the people working their and love the food.
(4)Erica T.
During a hotel stay in Skokie, this came up as the top rated option on Grubhub. So we ordered, and we're glad we did. We both got the Monday special, two hot dogs (comes with fries and a drink). Husband traded up to the waffle fries, I traded up to the cheese fries; we each got a shake (strawberry and chocolate) instead of the soda. About 20 minutes after we ordered, the restaurant called us to clarify our order - ask what we wanted on the hot dogs. Delivery followed quickly. They proceeded to explain the Chicago dog, and we both opted to try it. The jalapeño peppers were too hot for me, but otherwise I enjoyed the topping-heavy hot dog - husband loved it with them. Only thing I wasn't a fan of was the bun - it didn't seem to hold up to the juicy toppings very well. (I haven't had a Chicago dog before, so that may just be a reality of the menu item.) The fries were great (both options) - the cheese was some of the tastiest cheese-as-a-fries-topping I've had. The shakes were also quite good, and generously sized for the $1 upgrade price, in my opinion. Overall, quite impressed with the customer service, and the food was tasty, inexpensive, and quick.
(4)Allan M.
Honestly surprised I've never reviewed this place, after going here millions of times. But I will now make up for that. The menu and staff is virtually the same from when the name changed from U Dawg U to Dear Franks a few years ago, outside of a few minor menu additions(such as that they now serve shakes). Most of the awesome staff has worked here for many years, and they usually remember who I am when coming here(though lol, I'm not quite the type that gets the same order each time here). They handle rushes pretty well, though occasionally I've had to wait a little during lunch rushes for food. And in my experiences here, their lunch rush is usually their busiest time of any serving customers, with evening being 2nd busiest, so go during the middle of the afternoon or early evening if you don't want too long a wait. What I'm really addicted to is their waffle fries. Whenever I can afford them, I always get those instead of their regular fries, though their regular ones aren't bad(but need a wee bit salt). Great hot dogs, gyros, sandwiches, burgers(really love that they give you the option of cutting the burgers in half), you name just about anything they have, it'll be good. Me and my mom still debate to this day whether the cheese they serve on the burgers is processed. She may be possibly right for all I know, but darn is it good! To get the most enjoyable experience, take a little time to admire their sports memorabilia, and glance at a sports game on their TV, or read a newspaper when here. 9/17/08 edit: They are actually open on Sundays, albeit that they close I believe around 7pm.
(5)Justin G.
Stars are for the price. $9.25+ for two dogs, fries and a drink is mighty steep. The dogs were good but let's be honest, it's hard to mess up a Vienna hotdog. Fries were not fresh cut and drink was just soda from the fountain. None of this equates to a nine dollar meal.
(2)Sean H.
Disappointment. I only need one word to describe my experience at Dear Franks. I had a simple order of 2 hot dogs and fries. There were 2 people in front of me in line. It took them 20 minutes to get my order complete. The price was outrageous for hotdogs. There are multiple hotdog vendors within 5 minutes of Dear Franks that have considerably faster service for a reasonable fair. I guess your are paying for the "ambiance" of the place. To me, it was not worth it.
(1)Justin S.
Best Greek fast food in the neighborhood. Little pricey, but you easily get what you pay for. The fact that they have melted merkts cheddar is key. Put it on your burger, dog and hell even your beef. I've had all three and its top notch. People working there have been working there since it was called "U Dawg U". Beef combo sandwich is the best you'll find this side of Elmwood park. Also, nice that they have fountain drinks w good selections. Honestly, so many options on their menu that I often change it up every time I go. Much better than West or East of Edens. Papa Chris has a better gyro, but this place beats it in every other category. Just put merks cheddar on everything you order. Overall, roll w a double bacon cheeseburger w merkts or beef combo sandwich. Mertks cheddar seasoned cottage fries are required. Probably the best side order of any Greek fast food in the neighborhood. Dusty
(4)Megan A.
This place is just... amazing. You can't believe how good a hot dog (specifically, a Chicago dog) can get until you eat here. I recommend the Jumbo Char Dog... just typing about this is making my mouth water. The fries are very tasty, and my husband likes the pizza puff. I live in southern WI and the other day my friends and I drove an hour and a half just to have lunch here... yes, it's that good. Definitely give it a try.
(5)Barbara M.
Let me begin by saying that I am a huge & loyal fan of Super Dawg, so I knew going into this place that it couldn't compare by any means, but boy oh boy, was I wrong! First off let me start by saying the staff here are nicer than nice and greeted my son and I immediately. Since I've never been here before and we were just grabbing a quick bite before we hit the local movie theater, we both decided to order a dog & fries. Turns out that was the special of the day which meant it also came with a pop......sweet !! Not to mention that pop refills are FREE, that's right people, NO CHARGE for refills!!! Refills might not seem a big deal to some people, but if your a single Mom and your teenage son drinks as much as mine does, it matters, especially since I don't buy pop at home. This place has a special every day of the week and their prices are pretty good as well. Secondly, since our hot dogs came with fries, I asked if they could make them well done (nothing I hate more than soggy-ass french fries). They happily agreed and the crinkle-cut fries (my fave) were cooked to perfection and I ate every last one of them covered in ketchup.....Yum......Yum .....Fuckin' Yum !!! I will definitely be back if only for the fries!!!!
(4)Bella D.
My best pal from 4th grade and I still love our eating frenzies : ) and Dear Franks is the best place to go!! Char dog and Cheeseburgers and Fries!! Da best!! : ) Stop by hear for a quick bite! Great business owners and great food!
(5)Sherwin B.
I love their grilled hot dogs on a fresh bun with mustard, pickles, relish, saurkraut, onions, celery salt...everything but ketchup (yuk). Nice folks, clean, priced about right, and they get busy so it takes a while to get your dog...but worth it. Nice tables and loads of Chicago pictures and stuff to look at while you wait. Thanks guys!
(5)Chris W.
This place used to be U Dawg U. Which had equally as awesome food. It's just a little hole in the wall that you'd probably never think to stop in but I recommend you do. They've got specials everyday so you can get yourself a pretty good deal. I'd recommend their burgers though for sure. Their dogs are great too but the best burgers I've had aside from Paradise Pup are at this place. And they're cheaper. The guys that work there are pretty friendly. Chummy with the regulars and everyone else for that matter. They've got a crappy TV set up usually with some sports on. Lots of sports related pictures framed all over the walls. Kind of a shitty environment to be eating in but it's not like it's disgusting, just shitty lighting and some of the table legs are a little uneven. Better to have your food fresh though, even if you've got to eat it on an uneven table. Though if you take it home it'll be equally as awesome. They cook your burger, wrap it in some parchment paper stuff and cut it in half and serve it to you in a basket.
(4)Alex F.
Never had a hot-dog there, but the burgers are excellent. However, the reason I go there is for the chili-cheese fries.With genuine cheddar and good chili, this stuff is guaranteed to shorten your life by 5 years.
(5)Joanna B.
Very friendly and helpful staff. Good food. I recommend the turkey sausages or turkey burgers. Excellent french fries!
(5)a w.
Good lunch stop for some hot dogs and fries. That's their specialty here and one of the few things on their pretty basic menu. Good lunch stop to fill that hot dog craving!
(4)Jacob J.
You've been searching Chicago for that amazing Chicago style dog, your search ends here. Some stick to this funny idea that Superdawg is the best dog. Not, they have the best dawg. There are only a couple Dear Franks locations and this is the closest to Chicago. Even on a weekday afternoon they have more than enough employees in the kitchens working on food and maintaining the tables and restaurant altogether. It's not a big space, it's about the size of any quick stop Dunkin Donuts shop. Though have many seats available for the duo, group or single that needs to eat. Get a jumbo char dog with everything. You'll love it. What's so interesting? I think they soak the dogs a bit, slice the frank so that when it's grilling it gets fully cooked. Top it with the best tomato slices and sport peppers. It all tastes so very fresh and tasty. Now I'm longing....
(5)George Y.
this place is just plain stupid good, the owner is always there and always a fun time talking to him before the food comes.... just plain great food
(5)Nick S.
This place has been around for a long time. It used to be "U Dawg U". Parking pain at lunch time. Every blue collar that isn't at West of Edens is here. It's like a bumper car rink with people pulling in from Touhy and backing out, and waiting, etc. It's annoying. Outdoor seat is a nice little perk, not many places around there have outdoor seating. Nothing fancy, but it's outside. To me, this place has always been a little pricey. Not bad, and I wouldn't not go in because of it. Good cheese sauce!! It's real cheddar cheese sauce. Not the yellow liquid that is nacho sauce half the time, but real orange cheddar cheese. So real that the oil separates out when it sits! It's not for everyone, pretty sharp, but worth a try. Fast service and attentive staff. If you like sports memorabilia, this would be the place to go.
(4)Debbie M.
This place was great when it was U Dawg U, the people were friendly and they always had fresh soups. I remember how good they were and went to get some soup on a cold November afternoon. I waited 20 minutes that they were making in some machine. What takes so long and what is it made of. On top of it it was cold. I am never going back. Granted the food is made fresh but there are better places like Papa Chris, BackYard Grill, getand even Jacks Restaurant where you can get fresh food in the neighborhood. Disappointed!!!
(1)Christine S.
Two words make me think of Dear Franks; CHEESE FRIES! They serve real cheese, not that nacho or cheese wiz crap. The chicken breast sandwiches are outta this world. The staff is SO friendly. Seriously, a great hot dog joint. Come here! (this review is for both locations because both are equally amazing)
(4)David L.
Just like the original in Deerfield. The signature food is cheese fries and they are great. Great quality junk food.
(4)Scott H.
Horrible counter service. Mediocre food. Maybe if the fast talking counter help would let me finish saying what I wanted rather than assume she knew. Stop, listen and then take the order. 2 hot dog baskets with fries and a drink. 1 plain and one with everything. It wasn't that busy and there wasn't a line. Slow down and take the order properly. Then the food came out and well, they either gave us cold food on purpose or this is the service you can expect.
(1)Rhonda G.
A cute neighborhood establishment complete with families and preteen riff raff. Service is pretty quick but slightly inefficient. Although you are asked what you want on your dog/burger/polish when you order, you are called up and asked again before they finish it. Object of my affection: Turkey Polish with all the trimmings! So good. My Objection: Your fries are awful. They taste like cheap mass produced crinkle cut fries with no salt. A little pricey for just a regular polish or a hot dog. I can get a fancy topping over at this other place (you know) for what you charge for the regular stuff. Overall a nice little spot worthy of a quick drop-in for a snack, but I don't recommend the fries.
(3)Rodger W.
Amazing Polish and Hot Dogs. They lose a star for being pricey, but the quality is high and the service is fast and friendly. The specials are reasonable and include fries and a bottomless drink.
(4)Emily P.
One of the best places to grab a burger and fries - or better yet - seasoned cheese fries (my absolute favorite!) The prices are a bit higher than your typical fast food joint, but the taste makes up for that. I've never seen Dear Franks empty so it might take a while longer than your typical McDonalds or Burger King to get your food, but I think it's worth the extra few minutes. We like to designate Sundays as "Dear Franks Sundays." We go grab a bite to bring back home during half time.
(4)Jennifer K.
Been to all the best hamburger places in Chicago but this place is my all time favorite! The cheddar that they use is awesome! I like how they make the hamburger the way you want it and always tastes so fresh!!
(4)Pam D.
We stop here a lot when we go to the movies. I have always enjoyed the food but tend to stick to their Chicago dogs. I love their cheese fries as well, and the free refills on the soda is a plus. I stopped for a Chicago dog yesterday. One thing to keep in mind, when you ask for everything on your dog here ... it includes sauerkraut. Fortunately, they seem to sense that most folks do not want that and ask if you want it atop the dog. For me that's a big "No thanks!!!!"
(4)Stefan C.
This place is pretty bad. I ordered 2 chili dogs, small fries and a drink and it came out to about $10. Wow. The service was friendly but the rest is pretty bad. Dirty tables and the food sucks. The employee said they have the best chili dog in the area and I would have to disagree. Also the cheese that they have for their cheese fries or their chili cheese dogs tastes and smells like fecalmatter.
(2)Keith Y.
EDIT I SHOULD HAVE DONE MONTHS AGO: after i posted this, the owner or manager emailed me, personally apologized, and told me they now cook the fries on time. im going to leave the rant up so people know what im talking about, but obviously theyre sensitive to customer feedback. yay for people who care ------------------------------------ this place has decent food, its a little pricey but what would you expect in a mall in the suburbs? lots of vienna beef, chicago-phile, 90's bulls and 80s bears decorations on the wall so that you know your $4 hotdog is chicago enough. i am writing this review SOLELY because i am perplexed by their habit of not cooking your fries until you arrive, after you phone in an order. the first time i allowed it as a mistake but apparently this is protocol: you call in food. they tell you your food will be ready in 15 minutes or however long. lets say you show up 17 minutes later, or 15 or 25 minutes, it doesnt matter. when you announce that youre here to pick up the food, they start cooking your fries. i understand that they only take 2-3 minutes to cook. but if i am there 15 minutes after i call in the order (like they told me to be) and i have to wait in line behind 3 other people when i arrive, thanks to their open kitchen i can see my sack of burgers and the like sitting on the counter. but finally you get to the cashier, and then you see them START cooking your food. when its already supposed to be ready according to them (and most of it is) it just doesnt make sense. i had someone rationalize this as "they dont want the fries to get cold/they dont know if the customer will really show up". both of those excuses make zero sense. everything else is cooked and getting cold or whatever. why cant you cook my fries until i've already waited 15 minutes and then waited again in line? this isnt to complain about their line, if a restaurant is busy good for them. but it just makes absolutely no sense for them to wait. i could easily see a line of customers coming in that would fill up both deepfryers with food before you get to the counter, and then you having to wait even longer, despite calling your food in for the exact reason that you dont want to come in there and wait. whether its ten or twenty minutes doesnt matter to me, if i call in an order and you tell me to be there at a certain time then stick to it. it has nothing to do with being backed up. if i got there and all my food was still being cooked then thats one thing, because obviously you got the timing wrong or had other work to do or whatever it is. but when i show up for my food and hear the manager or who ever it is tell the cooks to start cooking it, WTF!? i just want to know why they think this is good business practice. last time i went there i had to wait ten minutes in the restaurant while i watched them cook the food. the whole point of phoning an order in is so that it is ready when you pick it up, therefore saving time. hypothetically you could show up a half hour late when placing an order, and they still wouldnt have your fries cooked yet. im pretty sure i could just walk in and order the whole order and have it ready in the same time, sans the phone call. again id like to say im not bashing the business, it is what it is. food is more than palatable even at its worst, and the menu is expansive enough to cover most tastes. but i doubt i will ever phone in an order to someone that doesnt understand that the order is being called in to avoid waiting.
(3)JR A.
My favorite cheddar burger n cheddar fries place! Food always taste the same great way each and every time. People are always friendly n personable. Skip everything else at village crossing and go here. This places uses real cheddar cheese!!!!
(5)Randy S.
Decent food, but the experience with the staff is awful. If they would spend half the time they do preparing the food as they do acting like your best friend than maybe you would get out within an hour. I'm not impressed that you can read my first name off my credit card, I'm thoroughly weirded out.
(2)Joe B.
Our favorite hamburger joint in Chicago. Their cheeseburgers are excellent. The staff is friendly and seem to do a good job of remembering people. My kids really like this place. If we let them vote on where to eat they will usually ask for Dear Franks. I will say this - with four kids, fries, shakes and burgers it gets kind of pricey. I regularly drop $40 to $50 on a meal for my family.
(5)Natasha R.
This is a great place for lunch - I've been here a couple of times since it's close to work and I have always had a good experience. Reading through other reviews, I am surprised there are so many mentions of bad customer service. I've had EXCELLENT service - very friendly staff, with huge smiles, at least from what I have seen. I have only tried a couple items off the menu, but I absolutely LOVE the Mushroom Swiss Burger... mmm! I've had it twice, once as a combo with a drink and fries, and once just as a burger. For me, it is way too much with the combo (though the cheese fries are delicious). There is nothing worse than the "sleepy after lunch feeling" back at work.. The burger on it's own is actually a perfect size! The last time I was here, I also had a chocolate/banana malt shake as well (it was one of those days...) Nothing else is worth mentioning, but I've never been disappointed. This location is located in the Village Crossing Mall, so it gets super busy around lunchtime. As for many other spots that I go to, I always try to avoid the crazy lunch rush, so 1 pm seems to be a good time. Going along with that, parking could be a b*tch as well. The inside is cozy, spacious, and has lots of Chicago sports memorabilia on the walls. The TV always has a game going on, so it's a good place to escape to from work :)
(4)M P.
Great food and excellent service! Every time I have gone here through the years I am never disappointed. The food is always good. Burgers, fries, sandwiches, and the shakes are delicious. Just the type of food you would expect when you want a little more than other fast food. Also the employees are always friendly!
(5)Emily S.
I've been coming to dear franks since I was in high school and I can't believe I forgot to review one of my favorite places. Perfect place to grab a burger and cheese fries! Tried some other menu items and the food is always really good, I've never had a bad meal here! The staff is always extremely friendly every time I come in too :) The food is always consistent and I've never had a problem with my order. Love dear franks!
(5)Gerry X.
Great place with friendly service, friendly staff and good food. Strip mall parking so something it's bad sometimes it's okay. the veggie burger here is really tasty.
(5)Jaclyn W.
The only thing I ordered was some cheese fries. Actual fries were pretty good but the cheese was very overpowering. It was giving me acid reflux and was kind of hard to eat. My friend also did not like the cheese fries.
(2)Vince R.
If you wanna pay for way overpriced food then Dear Franks is the place for you. Hotdogs are 3 bucks and don't include a fries or drink, their an additional 3 bucks. For 6 dollars for a single hotdog meal is outrageous. Their other combo meals are a rip off. Fries are horrible. You have to spend at least 10 bucks for a meal that is sub par. If I wanted to spend that much I'd go to a real restaurant and spend a few dollars more for some actual good food. Do not waste your time people.
(1)Ninweh Y.
Everything there is good. Especially , the burger . Yummy !!! The waffle fries are so delicious . Great customer services .
(5)Tricia G.
Great hotdogs!!! Service is really good. The people working there are super nice. Always greets you with a smile and a little bit of small talk. I always come here for the hotdogs and they never disappoint.
(5)Carolyn M P.
My sister and I came in during a rainy day to try something different. And we saw this store window stating DEAR FRANKS ? Sounds different lets go in and maybe the rain will let up. Well the rain didn't I ordered there Gyros sandwich also made it a meal with fries & drink for $2.95 the fries were crispy also the Gyros was great. I used to have this all the time at this place in my hometown in Aurora. My sister had the Patty melt and made it a meal also. She too like hers. This is a spot we will come back to again. Plus there are many other shops to visit too.
(4)JW W.
Well what can I say! Hum let's see! A burger critic came to visit your place at 12:30 in the afternoon and you gave him a dry precooked burger!! It had No taste at all!!! I think waiting for your burger to be cooked is much better then getting one that was cooked 2 hrs ago and dry as can be!! Must have been in a container somewhere keeping warm cause it only took 3 min to fix my order!! Oh well they had thier chance we will let everyone know how bad it was!! Don't go waste of money much better places out there that will make u a fresh burger!! Ps 1hr later on toilet!! Not good!! Next morning still got the shits!! Lmao
(1)Mary H.
I really enjoyed the food at Dear Franks as it was simply delicious! The staff was also great! Michael was super! My food was hot and tasty and what made it better was being able to have a person like Michael take care of me! I highly recommend this restaurant to all. If you want delicious food and good service- this is the place to go!!!! Super!
(5)Michael C.
We went to Dear Franks at Lunch Time. Kinda busy, no problems, tho. They were very smooth and fast! I had something called a Hoagie. Not with American Cheese, but with Swiss. Can I tell you that I died and went to heaven???? I never had this before! What I was MISSING!!! This HUGE sandwich was GOOOOD! And for another $2.95 you get fries and a large drink (large to me). I raved all about it even the following day. Nice place. Nice guys and gals. Fast turnaround once you get your order in.
(5)James P.
Great service but mediocre food. I'm always wishing for better burgers or fries.
(2)Reda K.
Grill chicken salads are really good. They actually cook the grill chicken for your order they have good specials
(4)Shoshanna S.
My boss (Kimmy) and I (Tabitha) got some food from here about 20mins ago, mine was fine; I had a simple hot dog with friends. But for her, well lets say not so fine. She told me her cheese fries were the worst she had ever had. I tried them and she was right. The cheese was like a melted blob of sandy cheddar mess. Like seriously, what the hell was this? That was hot legit cheddar cheese. It was like cold cheese on top of hot fries. Not cool dudes. For all your moving needs, call Done Right Moving and Storage Rates as low as $250. 312-854-5555
(3)Doug R.
Been here many times and have always had great food. Burgers, Chicken, hot dogs, it's always been good.
(5)Beatriz R.
I am not sure if I am really crazy about this place like it really hasn't wow'd me but I come because it's somewhat close to my job. I've tried several things on the menu like Char chicken sandwich and it just lacked flavor, I've a steak sub which was okay maybe needed alil more mayo or some special sauce they can create to spice it up. The wait is terrbile sometimes everything is cooked fresh to order it seems but when you only have a smal amount of time to get back to work it can be a bad idea to come. Overall the people working the front or taking orders are rather friendly, some times it can be a lil loud and hard to hear for them so patience is a must!. But if you are around i'd check it out!
(3)Sarah P.
Ugh, ate here once a couple years ago, and it still tops my list as worst food I ever paid for! I had a chicken sandwich and my guy had a beef. Both were BURNT, yet cold. And I mean BURNT... All we could taste char! I remember the fries being horribly soggy as well. Ick!
(1)Mandy K.
Ordered a medium/large delivery to my home and the customer service was extremely good. Fair pricing with all sorts of things to choose from. The shakes are deliccciouusss! The hamburgers are fantastic and small (but definitely will fill you up!), hotdogs are served great as well! I am a returning customer and will continue to order from here. Let the good times rollllll :)
(5)Debbie L.
The staff was friendly, the dog was good but the cheese fries were crap. Instead of beautifully melted cheddar cheese, I got a glob of only partially melted cheese paste on top of hot fries. My husband ordered the char dog and it looked much better than mine. Since he ordered cheese fries also, we both ended up throwing away most of our fries. I know for the future what to avoid.
(3)Kelley S.
I must write to update my previous review of this establishment. After being very kindly corrected, I want to make special note that there IS a changing table there despite my last review stating otherwise. And a kudos again goes out to this restaurant for it's extreme amount of friendliness and professionalism. I will return here, get a burger this time, and hopefully be back to give them 4 stars or above :)
(3)Simon C.
I've been coming to Dear Franks for years since it used to be U Dawg U. The food has been consistently great and staff is always friendly even on those days where I can't figure out if I want to try something new or go with my usual Double Cheese Burger w/ everything and hot peppers (god is it good..). What I love about the place is they do not try to reinvent the wheel, they make a simply great burger and good fries. Oh and their dogs are amazing as well. Jumbo butterfly chardog w/ everything, if you don't know you need to go find out for YOURSELF!!
(5)Lenny G.
The hotdog is pretty good, but the fries, not so much. They have a lot of options and the prices are ok. I would try this place again.
(3)